Booking platform ClickMechanic has so far raised more than £800 for Ben, the dedicated support charity for the UK automotive sector, after completing a three-week company-wide fitness challenge.
Dubbed ‘ClickMechanic Moves for Ben’, the initiative saw 21 colleagues accumulate 4.11 million activity points across 14 sporting disciplines, including more than 2.7 million steps and 118 hours of exercise. Twelve participants reached their individual targets, with ClickMechanic pledging £1 to the charity for every 5,000 points logged.
The challenge tracked everyday steps alongside running, cycling, swimming and strength training, with activity recorded through Strava, Apple Health and Google Fit converted into a unified scoring system.
The campaign was inspired by the experience of colleague Stewart Daynes, Head of AutoTech at ClickMechanic, who turned to Ben for mental health support following a heart attack two years ago. He received six months of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and professional life coaching.
“After my heart attack, I went through a really difficult time mentally,” said Stewart. “Reaching out to Ben was one of the best things I did. The support genuinely made a difference to how I was feeling and approaching things.
“The hardest part was admitting I needed help. Once I’d taken that step, the experience was far easier and more positive than I’d imagined.
“I think there’s still a perception that asking for help is a weakness, but having gone through it myself, I know that’s not the case. If sharing my experience encourages even one person to reach out, then it’s worth doing.”
ClickMechanic says the initiative highlights the pressures faced by vehicle technicians, workshop managers and business owners, who can spend long hours working in isolation while managing demanding jobs and the challenges of running their own businesses.
Andrew Jervis, Co-Founder and CEO of ClickMechanic, said: “The automotive trade is physically demanding, fast-paced and mentally taxing, especially for independent technicians and sole operators who often carry the entire weight of their business alone.
“Hearing how Ben supported Stewart after his heart attack brought home just how vital this charity is to our industry. We’re incredibly proud of what the team achieved and encourage everyone across our mechanic network and the wider trade to back Ben’s vital work.”
Donations can be made through ClickMechanic’s fundraising page, with independent repairers and businesses across the automotive aftermarket encouraged to support the appeal.
To donate, visit: https://giving.ben.org.uk/pf/clickmechanic-moves-for-ben.
